Treatment

Medication

There are many over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products available. These include decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines, and antitussives.

Note:
Cough and cold medications should not be used in children under 2 years old, and they are not recommended in children under 4 years old. The US Food and Drug Administration has not completed its review regarding the safety of over-the-counter cough and cold medications in children ages 2-11 years. Rare, but serious side effects have been reported.

Lifestyle Changes

Consider putting a steam vaporizer or cool-mist humidifier in your room. This type of moisture therapy may help to make secretions looser and easier to cough up.

Prevention

To reduce your chances of developing a cough:

If you smoke, talk to your doctor about
strategies
to quit. Smoking affects your lung function and increases your risk of many diseases.

Get proper treatment for the underlying condition.

When working in areas where harmful fumes or airborne substances are present:

Be sure the area is properly ventilated.

Wear a protective mask or respirator.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

1/30/2008 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T901276/Chronic-cough-in-children: Public health advisory:
Nonprescription cough and cold medicine use in children—FDA recommends that over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products not be used for infants and children under 2 years of age. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm051137.htm. Updated August 20, 2013. Accessed September 17, 2014.